FWC Division of Law Enforcement Field Report
This report represents some events the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
Santa Rosa County
Officer Andy Maltais concluded a derelict vessel investigation this week. After receiving a warning, an individual removed his 17-foot vessel from Trout Bayou. The vessel had been in a derelict condition since Hurricane Ivan.
Okaloosa County
On April 25, Lt. Mark Hollinhead and Officers David Brady and Espy Letcher observed a vessel towing a skier in the no wake/idle speed zone in Destin Pass. When the vessel was stopped, the operator displayed signs of impairment. Field sobriety exercises confirmed the operator was impaired. The operator was transported to the Destin Coast Guard Station where he provided a breath sample of .088. He was transported to the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with operating a vessel while intoxicated.
Walton County
On April 28, Lt. Mark Hollinhead attended court in Walton County for the sentencing of a subject who shot a deer at night while Lt. Hollinhead and Officer Danny Arnette were working night hunting in the northern part of the county. The subject was sentenced and fined $850, one year probation, three years suspension of hunting privileges and the firearm was forfeited.
On April 29, Officer Matt Webb investigated a boating accident that occurred on Black Creek. The accident occurred when the operator of a personal watercraft lost control of the vessel and was ejected. He sustained a rib injury which was treated at a local hospital in Walton County. Charges are pending.
Franklin County
On April 20, Officer Charlie Wood observed three individuals digging in the waters of the state near Turkey Point. Officer Wood set up a surveillance position in the woods adjacent to the individuals and watched as they probed and dug along the shoreline. Officer Wood then approached the individuals and asked what they were collecting from the water. Rocks and shark's teeth were the answers that were given to the officer but a search revealed that one of the subjects was in possession of 43 shards of Indian pottery. Another subject was found to be in possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis. Both individuals were issued citations with possible felony charges pending on the subject with the Indian pottery.
On April 25, Lt. Rama Shuster, Investigator Charlie Chafin and Officer Faris Livesay were on patrol on the offshore patrol vessel "Sea Hawk." At 11 p.m., the commercial fishing vessel "Hammerhead" was boarded approximately 45 miles southwest of Carrabelle. A fisheries inspection revealed possession of undersized red grouper, vermillion snapper and gag grouper, and red snapper not in whole condition. The fish were seized and a federal citation was issued.
